culture, music, and identity politics musings from a 20-something Australian-Asian living in Washington D.C.

“Naive” is one of those songs that grabs you on the first listen. Allegedly composed by the Kooks lead singer, Luke Pritchard, whilst still in his mid-teens, it’s fantastically catchy, melodic and distinctly faithful to the great British band tradition. It can be found on their debut album, “Inside In/Inside Out.”
A number of tabs and covers are available online for this song, but I found that none of the versions were quite perfect. This is culled from two of the best sources I came across: a tab located at Tabondant by Tom Corley and a video tutorial by Andy Boylett. There are minor differences between the two versions, but I think that of the two, Mr. Bleyott’s is more accurate.

NB: In playing the introduction, you’ll find the same pull-off for the A flat and B flat minor sections, which I think is best fingered with the little finger on the 6th and the first finger on the 4th fret.

In the introduction, Mr. Boylett finishes the progression with an F sharp in inverted C. I think he’s right, and it’s played with a first finger barre on the 6th fret, providing that solid, filling step down the bass note from the B major on 7th.

Verse: Here, I like Mr. Boylett’s use of the diminshed chord, rather than the D sharp chord that Mr. Corley finishes on.

Chord progression: A flat minor, E, F#, B, B flat diminished

B flat diminished (as employed by Mr. Boylett): Though I’m not exactly sure if this is correct, it certainly doesn’t sound bad.

E X
B X
G 9
D 8
A 7
E 6

Chorus: “I know, she knows…” – The key to remember with the chorus is that you should stay on the first chord for two bars, then for one bar for each of the next two chords. The third progression alters slightly, going back to A flat minor instead of F sharp major.

The first chord sounds best as an E maj sus 2 with a B root on the E string.

I’m not saying its your fault
Although you could have done more
Oh you’re so naive yet so
How could this been done
By such a smiling sweetheart.
Ohh and your sweet and pretty face
In such an ugly world
Something so beautiful.
Ohh that every time I look inside

Chorus: I know, she knows that i’m not fond of asking
True or false, it may be… Well, she’s still out to get me.
And I know, she knows that i’m not fond of asking
True or false, it may be… She’s still out to get me!

I may say it was your fault
Because i know you could have done more
Oh you’re so naive yet so
How could this be done
By such a smiling sweetheart.
Ohh and your sweet and pretty face
In such an ugly world
Something so beautiful.
That every time I look inside

I know, she knows that i’m not fond of asking
True or false, it may be… Well, she’s still out to get me.
And I know, she knows that i’m not fond of asking
True or false, it may be… She’s still out to get me!

So how could this be done
By such a smiling sweetheart
You’re so naive yet so
You’re such an ugly thing
For someone so beautiful
That every time you’re on his side

I know, she knows that i’m not fond of asking
True or false, it may be… Well, she’s still out to get me.
And I know, she knows that i’m not fond of asking
True or false, it may be… She’s still out to get me!

Just don’t let me down
Just don’t let me down
Hold on to your kite
Just don’t let me down
Just don’t let me down
Hold on to your kite
Just don’t let me down
Just don’t let me down
Hold on to this kite
Just don’t let me down

**Mr. Boylett plays in a London cover band named Monkey See, who seem like a good live act to hire if you live in that area: www.monkeysee.co.uk